MANILA – The Philippine National Police (PNP) is set to investigate the existence of the alleged “Kawsa Guihulnganon Batok Komunista” death squad (Kagubak) in Negros Oriental.
PNP chief Police General Oscar Albayalde said in a press conference yesterday that authorities will look into the Kagubak death squad allegedly behind the spate of killings in the province.
“First time ko narinig ‘yan. Wala ding report ang ating regional director diyan, or even the provincial director,” Albayalde said.
During a hearing by the Senate Public Order and Dangerous Drugs Committee on Tuesday on the string of killings in Negros Oriental, Sen. Risa Hontiveros said five of the 15 people in the supposed hit list of the group were among the 21 murder victims in the province from July 18 to 27.
“The fact that five of the 15 included
in the hit list were killed proved that the group exists,” she said.
Among those who were killed were lawyer Anthony Trinidad, who was number
14 on the list; Heidi Malalay Flores who was 11th on the list; Roberto Caday,
12th; and Boy Litong and his son, who were accused of being a member of the New
People’s Army, both as number 15.
Albayalde, however, claimed that majority of those murdered in Negros Oriental
last month had connections with leftist groups.
“Alam ko ‘yung iba or majority doon sa mga naging biktima ng mga
patayan have only one in common… they have leanings on the left,”
Albayalde said.
He added: “Kaya nga tinitingnan natin dito kung baka purging ito on their own… Kasi ginagawa nila ‘yan, they sacrifice their own and they blame the security forces.”
Based on the police data, the string of shooting incidents in Negros Island have killed at least 21 persons – 17 civilians and four policemen from July 18 to July 28, 2019. Killings continued this month, claiming at least four more lives./PN
